Luggage article

ABSTRACT

A luggage article includes a main body including a first wall, a flap, and a first gusset attached to the main body and to the flap, with the flap being moveable from a closed position in which the flap is partially attached to the main bag body to an open position in which the flap is at least partially attached from the main bag body to form a storage compartment defined by the first wall and the flap that can receive an item therein. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to luggage articles and,more particularly, to a luggage article having a flap that forms anauxiliary storage compartment that can receive an item therein.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Numerous types of luggage articles are known and understood inthe relevant art. Luggage articles typically are used for storing aplurality of items such as clothing or other items therein, andtypically are configured with handles, wheels, and the like tofacilitate moving the luggage articles and the items therein from onelocation to another. Luggage articles thus are conveniently used bytravelers to transport from one location to another their clothing andother items needed for daily use. While such luggage articles have beenreasonably successful at achieving their intended purposes, such luggagearticles have not, however, been without limitation.

[0005] Most luggage articles are configured with a main storage cavityinto which the clothing and other items are introduced for storage andtransportation. It is desirable, however, that dirty and sometimes wetclothes be kept separate from clean clothes in order to avoid thetransmission of moisture perspiration, odors, and soil from the dirtyclothes to the clean clothes. It is also desirable to isolate certainitems, such as bottles holding liquids therein, from the clean clothingor other items in order to avoid the liquid from contaminating the cleanclothing or other items in the event that the bottle breaks and theliquid escapes. While external pockets have been provided on some typesof luggage articles, and it is understood that dirty clothes cansometimes be received in such pockets, the use of such pocketsnevertheless remain inconvenient due to their small size and generallyawkward configuration. Additionally, while some luggage articles areconfigured with multiple sub-compartments within the main storagecavity, such sub-compartments are undesirable for the storage of dirtyclothing inasmuch as such dirty clothing presents an unsightlyappearance when the main storage cavity is opened for other purposes,such as to place additional articles therein during travel.

[0006] It is thus desired to provide an improved luggage article havinga flap externally disposed thereon such that a storage compartment isdefined behind the flap. The storage compartment preferably is separatedby a wall from the main storage cavity and is configured to convenientlyreceive therein an item such as a piece of dirty clothing or other item.It is also preferred that the flap be configured to remain open undercertain circumstances to facilitate the introduction of items therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the foregoing, a luggage article is provided,the general nature of which can be stated as including a main bodyincluding a first wall, a flap, and a first gusset attached to the mainbody and to the flap, with the flap being moveable from a closedposition in which the flap is at least partially attached to the mainbag body to an open position in which the flap is at least partiallydetached from the main bag body to form a storage compartment that isdefined by the first wall and the flap and that can receive an itemtherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A further understanding of the present invention can be obtainedfrom the Description of the Preferred Embodiments and the accompanyingfigures in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of aluggage article in accordance with the present invention, with theluggage article being in a closed condition;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment in anopen condition;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, except partially cut away;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of aluggage article in accordance with the present invention, with the firstembodiment being in a closed condition;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment in anopen condition and with a zippered compartment thereof not shown forpurposes of clarity;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, except partially cut away andshown without the zippered compartment for purposes of clarity; and

[0015]FIG. 7 is a sectional view as taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

[0016] Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout thespecification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] A luggage article 4 in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention is indicated generally in FIGS. 1-3. The luggagearticle 4 includes a main bag body 8, a flap 12, and a pair of gussets16. The luggage article 4 is configured to receive and store therein avariety of items such as clothing, personal items, and the like, andincludes handles, wheels, and other devices to facilitate carrying orotherwise moving the luggage article 4 from one location to another. Theluggage article 4 can be configured in the form of numerous known typesof luggage articles, such as carry-on bags, suitcases, garment bags, andother known luggage configurations.

[0018] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the main bag body 8 isroughly in the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with roundedcomers, although it will be appreciated that other sizes and shaped canbe utilized. The flap 12 and the gussets 16 are disposed on one side ofthe main bag body 8. The flap 12 advantageously defines a storagecompartment 20 between the flap 12 and the main bag body 8. The storagecompartment 20 is advantageously configured to receive an item therein,such as an article of dirty clothing or other such item, as will be setforth more fully below.

[0019] The luggage article 4 is manufactured primarily out of a flexibleand somewhat resilient material such as sheets of woven nylon or othersuch material. Moreover, while the luggage article 4 depicted in FIGS.1-3 is manufactured primarily out of flexible, resilient fabric to be ofa “soft-sided” configuration, it is further understood that in otherconfigurations the luggage article 4 could be manufactured out ofrelatively stiff materials such as molded plastic, which could includepolyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PVC-derivatives, or other such materials,without departing from the concept of the present invention.

[0020] The main bag body 8 includes a first wall 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3,) asecond wall 28, and a perimeter wall 32 connected with one another toform a hollow rectangular body. The first and second walls 24 and 28 aresubstantially rectangular with rounded corners, and are parallel andspaced apart from one another. The perimeter wall 32 extends between thespaced first and second walls 24 and 28 and extends around theperimeters of each of the first and second walls 24 and 28.

[0021] The main bag body 8 further includes a main bag zipper 36 thatdetachably connects the perimeter wall 32 with the first wall 24 andextends therebetween. When the main bag zipper 36 is in the releasedposition, the first wall 24 can be pivoted away from the perimeter wall32 to reveal a main storage cavity 40 within the main bag body 8. Themain storage cavity 40 is configured to receive therein a quantity ofitems such as clothing, shoes, personal items and the like. As will beset forth more fully below, the main storage cavity is advantageouslyseparated from the storage compartment 20 by the first wall 24.

[0022] The first wall 24 includes a pair of first side edges 44, a firsttop edge 48, and a first bottom edge 52 that are connected with oneanother along arcuate corners to form the substantially rectangularperimeter of the first wall 24. The first side edges 44 aresubstantially parallel and spaced apart from one another, and the firsttop and bottom edges 48 and 52 are likewise substantially parallel andspaced apart from one another. The second wall 28 is substantiallysimilar to the first wall 24.

[0023] The flap 12 is a substantially rectangular body with roundedcorners having a pair of parallel and spaced apart second side edges 56,a second top edge 60, and a second bottom edge 64. The second top andbottom edges 60 and 64 are substantially parallel and spaced apart fromone another, and along with the second side edges 56 form the perimeterof the flap 12. The second bottom edge 64 of the flap 12 is fixedlyattached to the main bag body 8 such as by sewing or other appropriateattachment method, such that the flap 12 is flexibly and pivotablymounted on the main bag body 8.

[0024] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the fixed attachment ofthe flap 12 to the main bag body 8 extends beyond the second bottom edge64, and continues along the rounded comers between the second bottomedge 64 and the second side edges 56, and extends a small distance alongthe second side edges 56. A flap zipper 68 extends between the flap 12and the main bag body 8 along the remainder of the perimeter of the flap12. It is understood, however, that in other embodiments the relativeextent of the flap zipper 68 and the fixed attachment of the flap 12onto the main bag body 8 may vary without departing from the concept ofthe present invention.

[0025] The flap zipper 68 advantageously can be moved between a zippedcondition (FIG. 1) and an unzipped condition (FIG. 2), which permits theflap 12 to be moved between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an openposition (FIG. 2). As is best shown in FIG. 2, the flap 12 in the openposition is partially attached to the main bag body 8, whereby theportions of the flap 12 that are fixedly attached to the main bag body 8remain attached thereto, and the portions of the flap 12 along which theflap zipper 68 extends are detached from the main bag body 8. As such,it can be seen from FIG. 2 that the second bottom edge 64 and a smallportion of the lower ends of the second side edges 56 remain attached tothe main bag body 8, while the other portions of the perimeter of theflap 12 are spaced or pivoted away from the main bag body 8.

[0026] As can further be seen in FIGS. 1-3, the flap 12 additionallyincludes a zippered compartment 72 that is internal either to the flap12 or to the storage compartment 20. The zippered compartment 72includes a zipper on the flap 12, and thus provides an additionalseparate storage space within the luggage article 4 that can be accessedfrom the exterior of the luggage article 4.

[0027] The embodiment of the luggage article 4 depicted in FIGS. 1-3includes a perimeter strip 76 that extends between the first wall 24 andthe flap 12. The perimeter strip 76 thus spaces the flap 12 from thefirst wall 24 and increases the volume of the storage compartment 20. Itcan seen, therefore, that the fixed attachment of the flap 12 to themain bag body 8 is actually a fixed attachment of the second bottom edge64 and a portion of the second side edges 56 of the flap 12 to theperimeter strip 76. Likewise, the flap zipper 68 extends between theflap 12 and the perimeter strip 76 about the remainder of the perimeterof the flap 12. It is understood, however, that in other embodiments theluggage article 4 may be configured to not include the perimeter strip76 without departing from the concept of the present invention. In sucha configuration, the flap 12 may be mounted directly onto the first wall24 of the luggage article 4.

[0028] As is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gussets 16 extend betweenthe second side edges 56 of the flap 12 and the first side edges 44 ofthe first wall 24. The gussets 16, as depicted generally in FIG. 2, areroughly trapezoid-shaped sheets of material similar to that out of whichthe main bag body 8 and flap 12 are manufactured, although otherappropriate materials may be employed without departing from the conceptof the present invention. It can be understood from FIG. 2 that in otherconfigurations the gussets 16 could potentially extend between theperimeter strip 76 and the second side edges 56 of the flap 12 withoutdeparting from the concept of the present invention.

[0029] Assuming that the second bottom edge 64 is at a vertically lowerposition than the second top edge 60, the flap 12 in the open positionis retained in equipoise in the position depicted generally in FIG. 2 bythe combined action of gravity and the retentive forces of the gussets16. As such, the flap 12 in the open position remains in the openposition such that the storage compartment 20 includes a mouth extendinggenerally vertically upward with respect to FIG. 2. This open-mouthconfiguration of storage compartment 20 permits the flap 12 to functionin concert with the first wall 24 such that the storage compartment 20serves as a laundry hamper that can receive a number of items therein,such as dirty clothing. The first wall 24 advantageously separates thestorage compartment 20 from the main storage cavity 40 to resist thetransmission of perspiration, odors, and soil therebetween. The luggagearticle 4 also is preferably configured such that it will remainvertically upright in the orientation depicted generally in FIG. 2despite the introduction of numerous items into the storage compartment20.

[0030] As is best shown in FIG. 2, the gussets 16 extend along asubstantial portion of the first and second side edges 44 and 56. Thegussets 16 thus cooperate with the flap 12 and first wall 24 to form thelaundry hamper which retains the items within the storage compartment 20when the flap 12 is in the open position by resisting items from fallingthrough the space between the flap 12 and the first wall 24. It isunderstood, however, that the gussets 16 may be of other configurationsthan that depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 without departing from the conceptof the present invention.

[0031] Inasmuch as it is desirable to physically separate the storagecompartment 20 from the main storage cavity 40 with the first wall 24,and inasmuch as it is understood that some of the items that can bestored within the storage compartment 20 can include wet clothing andliquid-containing structures, the first wall 24, the flap 12, and thegussets 16 are lined with a moisture-resistant material to formmoisture-resistant inner surfaces. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS.1-3, the moisture-resistant material is polyvinyl chloride. In otherembodiments, it is understood that substantial benefits can also beachieved by lining only the first wall 24 with the moisture-resistantmaterial. It is further understood that in other configurations thelining material may be of a different-moisture-resistant material, andit is farther understood that such moisture resistance may be impartedto the luggage article 4 in fashions other than by lining with amoisture-resistant material, such as by impregnating the variouscomponents of the luggage article 4 with the moisture-resistantmaterial, or by manufacturing various components of the luggage article4 out of the moisture-resistant material.

[0032] In use, the luggage article 4 is typically transported from onelocation to another with the flap 12 in the closed position as isdepicted generally in FIG. 1. When it is desired to place an item intothe storage compartment 20, the flap zipper 68 is moved from the zippedcondition to the unzipped condition, which permits the flap 12 to pivotfrom the closed position to the open position, whereby the flap 12, thegussets 16, and the first wall 24 cooperate to make the storagecompartment 20 into a laundry hamper with an upward-pointing mouth as isdepicted generally in FIG. 2. The flap 12 is maintained in equipoise inthe open position by the combined action of the gussets 16 and gravityacting upon the flap 12, which advantageously permits items to be placedinto the storage compartment 20 without the need to manually hold theflap 12 in the open position.

[0033] Once the items are positioned in the storage compartment 20, theflap zipper 68 is moved from the unzipped condition to the zippedcondition to detachably reconnect the detached portions of the flap 12onto the main bag body 8 and to thereby close the storage compartment20. In so doing, the material of the flap 12 and/or of the first wall 24resiliently stretches or otherwise elastically deforms as needed toaccommodate the items in the storage compartment 20. The items in thestorage compartment 20 are advantageously retained therein and are keptseparate from the main storage cavity 40 by the first wall 24 that isinterposed therebetween.

[0034] It thus can be seen that the flap 12 and the gussets 16advantageously define the storage compartment 20 against the first wall24, with the first wall 24 advantageously separating the storagecompartment 20 from the main storage cavity 40. The first wall 24 andother components of the luggage article 4 are advantageouslymoisture-resistant to resist the transmission of perspiration, odor, andsoil between items in the storage compartment 20 and items in the mainstorage cavity 40. The fixed attachment of the second bottom edge 64 ofthe flap 12 to the main bag body 8 operates in concert with the gussets16 such that the flap 12 remains in the open position depicted generallyin FIG. 2. The flap 12 and/or the first wall 24 are made out of aflexible and resilient material that can stretch to accommodate varyingquantities of items of different shapes within the storage compartment20.

[0035] A second embodiment of a luggage article 104 in accordance withthe present invention is indicated generally in FIGS. 4-7. The luggagearticle 104 advantageously includes gussets 116 that are in the form ofstraps 176 extending between the flap 112 and the first wall 124.

[0036] The straps 176 each include a first portion 180 and a secondportion 184 that are detachably connected with one another via a buckle188 extending therebetween. The first portion 180 of each strap 176 isconnected with the first wall 124 of the luggage article 104, and thesecond portion 184 of each strap 176 is connected with the flap 112. Thebuckle 188 extending between the first and second portions 180 and 184permits the first and second portions 180 and 184 to be detached fromone another to permit the flap 112 to be pivoted farther away from themain bag body 108 than the open position.

[0037] The luggage article 104 additionally includes a flexible sheet192 on the first wall 124 that defines an additional retentioncompartment within the storage compartment 120. The flap 112additionally includes a zippered compartment 172 (FIG. 7) that is of adifferent configuration than the zippered compartment 172.

[0038] It can further be seen that the main bag body 108 includes a mainbag zipper 136 that is disposed thereon opposite the flap 112. The flap112 thus remains stationary when the main bag zipper 136 is operated andthe second wall is pivoted away from the main bag body 108. In otherembodiments, however, the main bag zipper could be disposed adjacent theflap 112, whereby it would permit the first wall 124 to be selectivelypivoted with the flap 112 away from the main bag body 108 to open themain storage cavity.

[0039] The luggage articles 4 and 104, depending upon their specificconfigurations, may have a front side and a back side defined thereon.The front and back sides may be defined by the presence of wheels and/orhandles, the positioning of zippers, and in other fashions. In thisregard, it is understood that the flaps 12 and 112 may be disposed oneither or both of the front and back sides of the luggage articles 4 and104.

[0040] While a number of particular embodiments of the present inventionhave been described herein, it is understood that various changes,additions, modifications, and adaptations may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention as set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A luggage article comprising: a main bag bodyincluding a first wall; a flap; and a first gusset attached to the mainbody and to the flap; the flap being movable from a closed position inwhich the flap is partially attached to the main bag body to an openposition in which the flap is at least partially detached from the mainbag body to form a storage compartment that is defined by the first walland the flap and that can receive an item therein.
 2. The luggagearticle as set forth in claim 1, in which the first wall includes afirst side edge portion and the flap includes a second side edgeportion, the first gusset being attached to the first and second sideedge portions.
 3. The luggage article as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a second gusset, and in which the interior wall includes apair of opposed first side edges, a first top edge, and a first bottomedge, and in which the flap includes a pair of opposed second sideedges, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge, the first gussetbeing attached to one of the first side edges and to one of the secondside edges, the second gusset being attached to the other of the firstside edges and to the other of the second side edges.
 4. The luggagearticle as set forth in claim 3, in which the storage compartment isdefined by the first wall, the flap, and the first and second gussets,when the flap is in the open position.
 5. The luggage article as setforth in claim 4, in which a zipper extends between at least a portionof the main bag body and the flap.
 6. The luggage article as set forthin claim 5, in which the second bottom edge is fixedly attached to themain bag body.
 7. The luggage article as set forth in claim 1, in whichthe first wall has a first inner surface, the flap has a second innersurface, and in which the first and second inner surfaces aresubstantially moisture-resistant.
 8. The luggage article as set forth inclaim 7, in which the first wall and the flap are lined with amoisture-resistant material to form the first and second inner surfaces.9. The luggage article as set forth in claim 8, in which themoisture-resistant material is polyvinyl chloride.
 10. The luggagearticle as set forth in claim 8, in which the first gusset is lined witha moisture-resistant material.
 11. The luggage article as set forth inclaim 10, further comprising a second gusset, and in which the interiorwall includes a pair of opposed first side edges, a first top edge, anda first bottom edge, and in which the flap includes a pair of opposedsecond side edges, a second top edge, and a second bottom edge, thefirst gusset being attached to one of the first side edges and to one ofthe second side edges, the second gusset being attached to the other ofthe first side edges and to the other of the second side edges, and inwhich the second gusset is lined with a moisture-resistant material. 12.The luggage article as set forth in claim 1, in which the flap ismanufactured at least partially out of a resilient material such thatthe storage compartment is structured to be expandable to hold the itemtherein when the flap is in the closed position.
 13. The luggage articleas set forth in claim 1, in which the first gusset is a strap.
 14. Theluggage article as set forth in claim 13, in which the first gussetincludes a first portion attached to the main bag body and a secondportion attached to the flap, the first and second portions beingreleasably connected with one another.
 15. The luggage article as setforth in claim 14, in which the first gusset includes a bucklereleasably extending between the first and second portions.
 16. Theluggage article as set forth in claim 15, in which the flap includes aninterior zippered compartment.
 17. The luggage article as set forth inclaim 1, in which the flap includes an interior zippered compartment.18. A luggage article comprising: a main bag body including a firstwall; a flap structured to be cantilevered from the main bag body suchthat the first wall and the flap form a storage compartment.
 19. Theluggage article as set forth in claim 18, in which the flap can becantilevered between a closed position and an open position, and furthercomprising a first gusset extending between the main bag body and theflap, in which the flap in the open position is supported in the openposition by the first gusset.
 20. A method of storing an item in astorage compartment of a luggage article, the method comprising thesteps of: detaching at least a portion of a flap of the luggage articlefrom a main bag body of the luggage article; moving the detached portionof the flap away from the main bag body to form the storage compartmentbetween the flap and a first wall of the main bag body; and receivingthe item into the storage compartment.
 21. The method as set forth inclaim 20, in which the step of moving the detached portion of the flapincludes the step of supporting the flap in an open position with afirst gusset.
 22. The method as set forth in claim 21, in which the stepof supporting the flap includes the step of holding the flap inequipoise with the first gusset and with gravity.